Quote Originally Posted by ilima View Post
First off--you rock. Second, an Orbea may just not be the right bike for her. The 53cm Diva sounds a bit short for her height, although even people of the same dimensions may prefer different positions.

I think the 54cm Orca would be too big. One mitigating factor of the Diva is that the steeper seat tube angle will have the result of her needing to place her saddle further back to get the same seat position relative to the bottom bracket than a bike with a slacker STA (e.g., Orca).

One effect of having a 'smaller' bike is that there is more saddle to bar drop than with a bigger one. You can stack a bunch of spacers under the bars, but too many looks ugly.

For the kind of money you're going to spend, you really need to have your GF ride some bikes & get fit first. That would be my advice; try the Diva and have her try a Madone WSD in a 54cm (53cm TT).

Also, don't forget looks ARE important. We like to ride purty bikes & your and her definition of purty may be different.
Thanks for all of the comments....her definition of purty happens to be the same as mine - she loves my Orange Orca and WANTS a blue Diva....I WISH I could have her sit on (and ride) a 53 Diva to see how it fits for her, but my LBS Orbea dealer doesn't carry any higher end stuff and certainly no women's models. I think the steeper seat tube (than the Orca) will work in her favor with her short torso...guess there's no real answer, then, except getting her on a Diva OR finding a bike the LBS DOES have that is the same geometry. Thanks again (and come to think of it...I DO ROCK!)